Bearing construction



June 1932- H L. BLYDENBURGH 3,

BEARING CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 27, 192? 2 Sheets-Sheet l wuentoz June 1932- H. BLYDENBURGH fi BEARING CONSTRUCTION Filed 001:. 27, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 II I n mull.

muznko'o Patented June 21, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE HAROLD L. BLYDENZBURGH, DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO TI-IE MOTO-MOWER COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MIGHIGAN- BEARING CONSTRUCTION Application filed. October 27, 1927. .Serial No. 229,015.

The present invention pertains to a novel bearing construction designed particularly for use in connection with lawn mowers.

A motor driven lawn mower of the gen eral type disclosed in the patent to Perry E.

5 overcome this necessity and to provide a construction whereby the shaft may be taken out of the frame by the removal of a bearing member slidable on the shaft. When the bearing has been removed to the position which permits withdrawal of the shaft, the

latter may then be passed through slots cut in the side frame members. When the bearing is in active or operative position, the

walls of the slot-s are drawn together so that each frame is clamped around its respective bearing assembly.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the following description and in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail elevation of one of the side frame members showing the bearing aperture and the slot communicating therewith;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the machine, partly in section; and

Fig. 4 is a detail longitudinal section showing the construction of the bearing assembly on an enlarged scale.

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

The frame of the machine includes a pair of side members 1 joined and spaced by a tie rod 2 and having ground wheels 3 journalled thereto in any suitable manner, for example, as disclosed in the above mentioned patent and application. Between the side frame members 1 is aiso journalled a cutter shaft 4 in a manner presently to be described in detail. This shaft carries a sprocket wheei '5 which is suitably geared to a gasoline motor =6 carried by the frame. The ends of the shaft are reduced as at 7 and carry pinions 8 which are chained to sprocket wheels 9 comprised in the ground wheels 3 whereby the latter are driven from the cutter shaft.

The bearing construction for the cutter shaft 4 is shown more clearly in Figures 2 and 4. Each side frame member has an aperture 10 from which extends a slot 11 through an edge of said member. A bearing cup 12 is fitted into the aperture and has a shoulder 13 engaging the outer face of the frame member. The base 14 of the cup is penetrated by the shaft 4 in such a manner that the re duced end 7 of the shaft is disposed at the outer side of the base. In the base is formed a cavity'15 which receives backing material 16 for engaging-the shoulder 17 between the 'main portion of the shaft and its reduced end.

The reduced end within the cup is surrounded by a race 18 having a sloping outer face orshoulder 19 on which islaid a series of tapered bearings 2.0. These members are enclosed in an outer race 21 having an inner sloping face 22 to engage the tapered members and its outer wall 23 in engagement with the inner wall of the cup. The inner wall of the race 18 is formed as a conical surface 24 having its apex in the axis of the shaft 4. The wall therefore forms an annular wedge shaped space around the shaft. In this space is received a wedge member 25 which is longitudinally slotted as clearly shown in Figure 4. v 2 Into the upper end of the cup is fitted a packing ring 26 into which is inserted a guard 27 which also surrounds the reduced end of the shaft. The guard contains a packing ring 28 abutting the base wall 29 which is more remote from the thicker end of the wedge member 25. At this thicker end is formed a thin extension 25 closely surrounding the shaft and in turn surrounded by a conical ring 30. A spring 31'is fitted over the ring in a manner to abut the thicker end of the wedge member and the inner face of the packing ring 28. The guard 27 is engaged exteriorly by a castle nut 32 screwed on threads 33, and held by a pin 33. The spring 31 therefore acts to force the wedge member as far as possible into the race, 18, thereby compensating for any wear occurring in the tapered bearings or the two races. The slotted character of the wedge member permits this member to clamp itself tightly around the shaft when it has been forced as far as possible into the race 18. Due to this action, the spring 31 acts not only as a compensating device for wear in the bearing but also holds the bearing assembly against looseness on the shaft. V

The slot 11 previously mentioned is bridged by a screw 34 threaded into one wall thereof and fitted for sliding through the other wall. By means of this screw, the Wall of the aperture 10 may be clamped tightly around the cup 12 to hold the bearing assembly in its service position in the frame member 1. WVhen it is desired to remove the shaft 4 for sharpening the cutter blades thereon, the screw 3 1 is removed to enlarge the opening 10 and clear the slot 11, and the pin 33 is withdrawn from the shaft so that the cup 12 and parts contained therein may be slid on the reduced end 7 towards the pinion 8. The shaft 4 may now be removed from the frame members 1 by withdrawal through the slots 11. The cup 12 is further provided with a nipple 35 having a plug 36 in its outer end. This device permits insertion of a charge of lubricant into the cup and then sealing the same against leakage.

Although-a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various alterations in the details of construction may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. A bearing construction comprising a frame member having an aperture thereing assembly removably fitted in said aperture and having an outer diameter greater than the width of said slot, a shaft centered in said bearing and having a diameter less than the width of said slot, releasable means for locking said assembly in said aperture, stop means on said shaft engaged by one end of said bearing, a nut threaded on said shaft and engaging the other end of the bearing to-tighten the .bearing against said means, said shaft being free adjacent said nut to permit retraction of the nut from said bearing and retraction of said bearing from said frame member by sliding on the shaft.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HAROLD L. BLYDENBURGH.

through, a bearing cup removably fitted in i said aperture, rotary bearing elements assembled in said cup, a shaft centered in said elements, a nut threaded on said shaft at one side of said cup, means between said nut and elements for maintaining said element-s against sliding in one direction, and means on said shaft at the other side of said cup for maintaining said cup and bearing elements against sliding in the other direction, said shaft being free adjacent said nut to permit retraction of the nut from said bearing and retraction of said bearing from said frame member by sliding on the shaft.

2. A bearing construction comprising a frame member having an aperture therethrough and a slot running from the aperture through an edge of said member, a bear- I 

